Adjustable headwear



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,427

A. l. BLUM ADJI JS TABLE HEADWEAR Filed Dec. 21., 1927 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 I IN ENTOR flbranam I um I ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED ,STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM I. BLUE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ADJUSTABLE HEADWEAR.

' Application flled'Deeember 21, 1927. Serial No. 241,523.

This inventionirelates to adjustable headwear, and particularly to the means for adjusting the head sizes of caps. Said adjust ing means is especially designed to eliminate the extraneous fasteners, buckles, straps, elastic tapes and the like, which have heretofore been generally used for the purpose of making hats and caps adjustable.

My invention contemplates the provision to of simple, inexpensive and easily maniputofore been customary in headwear of theusual type which is not adjustable.

The various objects of my invention will be clear from the description which follows, and i from the drawings, inwhich, 2 Fig. 1 is a partial vertical section and side view of a lined cap to which my invention has been applied, showing my improved adjusting means. I I

Fig. 2 is a similar view ofa portion of a cap embodying my inventiomthe thickness of the parts being greatly exaggerated for clearness, and the parts being shown in the positions assumed thereby when the cap is adjusted to the largest head size possible. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same, showing the parts adjusted tolgive a smaller size. Fig. l is a perspective View ofaportion of theadj'usting flap, showing one form of the clampin means for maintaining the .adjust-.

ing strin g in adjusted position. a I Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of another form of clamping means'for the string.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of an unlined cap to which my invention has been applied,

' part of the sweat band being turned down to all expose the adjusting flap and part being broken away to expose the string clamping means.

Fig. justing band showing a modified form of opening thereinfor the passage of the string.

' In the practical embodimentof my invens (raw edge 15 of the crown and'about the stif fening member 16 andseamed thereto and. to 7 tion I prefer to use a tubular flap 10 of suitable material, such asbinding tape,"- which fiapis secured in place at or. near the-lower edge'of the'llsil'al crown-'11. Adjustment of 7 a, front View of apart-of the adthe size of the opening in the headpiece is ef fected by swinging theflap 10 into various angular positions as will appear more fully hereinafter. It becomes possible, therefore, to adjust the effective headsize of the headpiece in connection with either the lining itself for the headpiece if the-sweat band is omitted, or in connection with a sweat band, with or' without a lining, while at the same time using the crown of the conventional type Without alteration of anykind.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6 lnclusive, I I

wherein I have shown a capto which my invention has been applied,it will be seen that the crown 11 and the visor12 are of substantially conventional construction. When applied to caps, I prefer to associate the adjusting means with the comparatively narrow finishing flap which has sometimes been used tov finish the lower edge of the crown. As sh0wn,'the flap 10 comprises a piece of tape 13 folded to form a sort of tube and having the closed fold 14 at the inner or free peripheral edge thereof, into the interior of which flap the lower or terminal raw edge 15 of the so I crown is inserted and secured. For making the flap 10 comparatively stiff and resistant to deformation, I prefer to arrange inside there-v of a narrow piece of stiffening material 16, made of buckram or the like, though it will be understood that if desired, the stiffening material may be omitted without materially affecting the proper functioning of the devlce. I

Referring now to; Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, wherein a lined cap including a sweat band is shown, the sweat band '17 of the conventional type, is secured in place by seaming the lower edge 18 thereof to the inturned edge 15 of the crown, as by means of the stitching 19. The lining 20 may be secured in placeto the outer face 21 of the flap 10 b the same stitching 19, orby a separate line 0 stitching if desired, so that said flap l0 lies between the sweat band and the lining and is normally hidden by the Sweat band, It will be understood'that the.

space 22 is left in the interior of the flap 10 may be inserted before thefiap is finally secured in position. If desired, the tubular flap 10 may first be folded about the'lower the lower edge '24 of the lining-2O as bymeans ofthestitching 25 before-the sweatband 17 is secured in place. However, it will be seen that either the sweat band or the lining may besecured first to the flap 10, or both may be secured to said flap simultaneously it desired.

It will also be seen that the string 23 may be inserted in the space 22 before or after the flap is finished in its substantially tubular form.

Preferably at the front portion 26 or" the flap 10,11 suitable opening 27 is provided, through which the ends 28 ot the string' 23 pass out of the interior of the said flap. The edge of said opening 27 is reinforced in any suitable manner, as for instance, by means o1 an eyelet 29, era button-hole as 30. litter the ends 28 oi the string have been tightened or loosened to the desired extent for adjusting thet'ension on the flap 10, said ends are prevented from entering the opening 2'? any further, by any suitable means adapted for that purpose. For exan'iple, l have shown in Fig. l,the knot 49 made in the ends 28 ot the string, which knot is large enough to prevent any part of the string from being dravn'i into the inside of the liap, the knot being pulled into engagement with the edges of the open- I ing 27 by the tension on the string. in Figs.

l and 6 l: have shown the ends 28 of the shrin L D passed through a lQdSbGIlGl' or clamp 00, alter which a knot 31 is made in said ends, so that the ends 01 the string are not lost into the interior ot the flap 10, should the clamp become misplaced or loosened. Said clamp may consist of a base 32, and a hinge member 33, pivotally mounted as at on suitable flanges projecting from the base and provided with teeth 35 for pressing the string against the adjacent taco ot the base 32. 'lensioning oil the string 23 can thereby draw only that pertionot the string between the end of the clamp '50 and the opening 2'7, into interior of the flap, the clamp and the string secured therein being prevented from passing through the opening .27 by the engagement of said clamp with the edges of said opening. Ideterring to Fig. 5, l have there shown diagrammatically, a tapered clutch member 36, provided with an opening 37 through which are passed the ends 28 of the string, the clutch maintained in adjusted position on the str ng by any suitable means such as the ball 38. Said ball tends to jam' the string on the attempted relative movement of the clutch and string in one direction, in a manner which is well known and which need not be here described in any further detail.

It desired in any of the modifications shown,the flap may be secured at one point, preferably at the rear of the cap or hat, as at ll, to the sweat band so that both halves the string beyond said point ll pull equally on the "tensioning thereott', and the danger of puckerinp; the lower edote the crown avoided. It will be anus. stood, howeventliat the entire flap 10 may be tree about its entire periphery from the remainder of theheadpiece except at the edge where it is hingedly secured in place.

in order to lessen the ellective headsize of the headpiece the string ends 28 are pulled, thereby withdrawing part. of the string through the opening 27 and out of the interior oi the'fla-p; Thetstring is thereby shortened, the circumferential length thereof being lessened, thereby shortening the diameters of the inner or tree edge of said flap. This operation causes the flap to swing inwardly toward the inside of the headpiece about the stitching 19 by means of which it is hingedly secured to the headpiece.- The flap thereby is caused to assume a different angular position as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 7 As clearly shown in Fig; 3, the tension on the string maintains the flap in its adjusted angular position, the string being prevented from lengthening under the tension by any of the means shown for that purpose, such as the knot 49, the clamp 50, the clutch 36, or any other suitable means. Where the sweatband 17 is used in the headpiece tensioning of the'string and the conse quent angular disposition of the flap 1'0, urges the lower part of the sweatband toward the inside of the headpiece (Fig. 3), by pushing inwardly against the sweatband, and distorting it somewhat from its normal shape, so that the sweatband can nolonger 'stand up in its normal position comparatively straight as shown in Fig. 2, but is bent about the taut string, which makes an indent therein. The string thereby determines the effective headsize by its pressure against, and deformation oi, the sweatband. It is obvious that it is the diameter of the tensioned string inside of the flap which determines the headsize, since the string niust'be of the proper diameter to pass about andtit the head in order that the head piece may fit properly. It will also be seen that the strin inavbe tensioned suliici'entl 1 O 1 to force tno flap to lie in a plane for aininimum headsize, or to assume conical shapes of various altitudes for dih'erent headsizes;

.Vhile it has oeen customary heretofore tor the retailer to carry in stock, headpieces'm each individual size for each style, it becomes possible with the use of my invention for the retailer to stock only a minimum number of sizes in each style. Adpistment w1th1n at least two or three sizes can easily be obtained by tightening or loosening-the string or'ribbon in the flap 10' maybe necessary, whereby it becomes possible for the retailer to quickly and easilyadjust the headsize to the requirements ot the individual customer.

lhe adgustmg means are normally hidden.

used for the same purpose. 1 The variousparts of the adjusting device are inexpensive and are adapted to be quickly and easily assembled at minimumexpense. The adjusting device, being entirely independent of the crown, cannot wrinkle or pucker up the crown, nor is it necessary to slit or separate the parts of thecrown at any point. It will be seen there fore, that the headpiece provided with my improved adjusting meanspresents in all 'respects the same appearance as that ofthe conventional headpiece, and that the adjustment can be efficiently effected within .a limited range of sizes by pushing upon the sweatband or the lining as the case may be to change the size thereof. 7

It will be understood that various changes in the construction shown and described may be made such as in the type of clamp used for maintaining the adjustment of the string. in the proportions and arrangement of the flap, in the lining, and other changes which are contemplated and which fall within the spirit and scope of this invention. It is therefore intended to claim the invention as broadly as is permitted by the state of the prior art and the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable cap, a fabric crown, an inturned lower edge on the crown, a sweat band secured at its lower edge to said crown, a continuous tubular flap of comparatively thin and soft material, having an opening in-v terposed' between the sweatband and the crown and secured thereto about the'lower edge of the cap and enclosing said inturned edge, said flap being of less height than that of the sweatband and normally concealed thereby, a string, arranged in the upper part of said flap, ends on said string passing out through said opening into the interior of the cap, and fastening means slidable on the ends of said string and in the interior of the'cap,

said fastening means being adapted to be covered by said sweatband.

2. In an adjustable cap, a crown of the conventional type, an inturned lower edge on said crown, a tubular flap of soft, flexible material secured to and hinged about the lower.

edge of said crown, part of said lower edgeentering thereinto, said flap having an opening therein, and serving as a finishing covering for the inturned lower edge of the crown and as a pocket for an adjusting member, an inelastic adjusting member arranged in the upper portion of said flap and having its ends passing out through said opening, whereby the effective length of said string may be varied, and means for maintaining the effective length of said string including a fastening device movable on the ends of the string for connecting said ends.

3. In an adjustable cap, a crown of the conventional type, an inturned, upwardly bent lower edge on the crown, a strip of comparatively soft-material secured about and enclosing the lower edge of the crown for finishing said crown and providing a pocket hinged to said crown, and an inelastic member in said pocketandemer 'ing therefrom into the interior of the cap, for adjusting the position of said pocket.

4. In an adjustable cap, a crown of the conventional type, a member secured about and enclosing the lower edge of the crown providing a stiffened pocket hinged to said crown, an elongated inelastic member in said pocket emerging therefrom into the interior of the cap, means on said elongated member outside of said pocket for connecting the ends of the member and for adjusting the efiective length thereof and preventing the retraction.

of said member into the pocket under tension, and a complete one-piece sweatband normally covering said pocket member while allowing access thereto.

5. In an adjustable cap, a crown'of the conventional type, a pocket forming flap mem :of said inelastic member, a lining for said cap secured on the side of said flap member adjacent the crown, and a complete one-piece sweatband secured to the crown below the flap member. 7

ABRAHAM I. BLUM. 

